United States Department of Transportation
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Abstract:conducts research on locomotive crashworthiness. The research approach includes four phases:
1. Accident investigations to assemble sequences of events leading to injury and fatality.
2. Locomotive performance is analyzed, and potential improvements are explored.
3. Specifications are developed, using the research results.
4. Locomotives are designed to the evolved standard and introduced into service.
As technological advances show promise for improved performance, the phases proceed in an evolutionary fashion, with continuous research leading to continuously improving standards and safer designs.
Recent accidents’ consequences suggest that locomotives built to the requirements of U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 Part 229 Appendix E (Appendix E) are often more crashworthy than would be expected of older locomotives. In the 1990s, FRA conducted research in response to the Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act of 1992. In 1997, at the request of the FRA, the Locomotive Crashworthiness Working Group was formed. Members of the working group included railroads, suppliers, and labor organizations. Further research was conducted and Appendix E was drafted and recommended to FRA. After the Working Group disbanded, FRA continued research on locomotive crashworthiness. Recently component tests were conducted of energy-absorbing anti-climbers and couplers. Full-scale impact tests are being planned, in part to show crashworthiness compatibility of modified locomotives with a range of freight and passenger equipment. Results of this research are currently being used by the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Tender Technical Advisory Group of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to develop crashworthiness requirements for LNG tenders and locomotives.
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